New Podcast Channel and Old Worlds as "Beginner Species" Podcast 

I feel like a better keeper just listening to you. Your ability to just sit down and record something this interesting is amazing to me too. Your talent makes it seem like you can do that with no practice at all. I could never do that. Thanks for making this one, i learned a lot.

Your directions on how to keep T's has been great for anyone who does keep T's. It is hard to be a newbie in this hobby. You help people. Your voice is great so I think there are always going to be needing you to help them keep their own well. I think this is a great channel for tutelage of the T.

Saying that OW tarantulas have more medically significant venom is not demonizing them - it's a fact. Recommending that a brand new person not choose a species with medically significant venom is the only adult, responsible, thing to do. It is exhibiting sound judgement, regardless of how prepared that they claim they are. I don't understand when exhibiting sound judgement became something to be ashamed of. OW tarantulas are FAR less likely to be out and about in the open, so they are not more exciting. There are more than enough NW species who are more challenging to keep and have a spicy temperament. You want threat postures? Get yourself some Nhandu and you won't be disappointed.

the biggest thing for me is some people try to scare people away from the hobby by demonizing old worlds. i remember 15 years ago i wanted to get my first T and i was told i had to start with a g rosea, and that turned me off the hobby. i came back years later after doing more research and got a p murinus because i love the african tarantulas. my only regret is that i wasted so many years without tarantulas in my life, and that i listened to someone who insisted they were correct about this.

Think part of the problem is the RU-vid “top” list videos. Younger people want these fast, easily digestible lists of easy this, best that. When it’s not so easy to simplify with living creatures of different temperaments.

I listened to this podcast and wish that more role models in today's society paid as much attention to what they say and do as you yourself do. I've always loved your videos and watch them to see new species and just entertainment value, like the other channels I watch. You really are a super stand up guy. Thanks for all you do for the newbie and been in the game for years tarantula owners!!

Whenever people argue about having old worlds as beginners I always think back to my first year in the hobby, and some of the big mistakes I made. My 1st T was a sweet G. rosea sling and my 2nd T was an N. chromatus sling. About 6 months in, my N. chromatus was already a 3 inch, fast, hair flicky little sass pot. One day, as this guy was approaching another molt and the size of the abdomen was getting quite dark and large, he managed to get himself stuck inside of a drainage hole in the plastic pot I had been using as a hide. I learned real flippin quick that that was a HUGEEE mistake. Here I am sat in my kitchen having to cut this spider out of the pot. And when I tell you I was seriously full on trembling and dripping sweat the entire time, that is no exaggeration. There is no way I would have known how scared I was of this sassy little new world until I finally had to interact with it up close. Luckily the heavy pre-molt meant that once I dislodged them, they simply walked off real slow without any display at all. But yet just minutes ago, I was trembling at the thought of me saving my spiders life only for it to turn and strike at me or kick hairs. So yeah, this is why I personally wouldn't recommend old worlds. Because if that had been a defensive baboon or asian fossorial that I had to save, I can honestly say I might have passed out somewhere in that process. Or worse, would have been too scared to save it.

My 3rd T was an old world. 1 month after my 1st T. I did plenty of research before I even got my 1st T and decided that I was comfortable doing so. This was 2 years ago, 1/2 in P. regalis now pushing 4 in. suspect female. I used your videos as a reference and I appreciate your take on beginner species.

Really good content The one issue : Everyone dedicated enough to listen probably knows; those who need it most haven't reached the 'listen to a podcast' stage But still great, thanks so much :)

Story time: When I was a teenager, (like in the '90s) I was getting into tarantulas after having different aquaria and critters for a few years. I had a rose-hair, an Avicularia (Avic avic) and... a Poecilotheria. The pokie was actually mislabeled in the pet store as an "ornamental baboon spider" and I had seen pictures of Poecilotheria in threat pose and I figured they looked cool. I was never into hand-holding tarantulas and never planned to. However I had absolutely no idea what I actually had in my enclosures. My parents certainly had absolutely no clue what I had (Gen-X lived in pretty awesome times). The pokie was certainly skittish but never really gave me any trouble. I was careful because I didn't particularly trust tarantulas in general (frankly, I was pretty freaked out by them). Respect and care, not fear. Fast forward to today. I'm getting back into tarantulas. My heart wants another Poecilotheria. Like seriously. I see such a variety available around me, I have an enclosure that would be perfect for me. But, I'm going with a Psalmopoeus pulcher instead. The main/only reason is that in the rare event of a bite I would rather have a day of severe pain then potentially have weeks of symptoms. Can't say that I won't ever get one again but I just don't really need one right now. I've known "beginners" who had such levels of knowledge about the animals they've owned that I would think that they would be fine with an old world. I've known people who had such crazy attitudes towards animals that they should only own photos of tarantulas (IMHO). Having said that, the old world =/= beginner tarantulas is a valid characterization.

Totally agree with different types of beginners. I started off with snakes and lizards. I learnt how to keep humidity and temp for many reptile species before getting my first invert. By the time I did get my first invert (Emperor Scorpion) I did not have all that much trouble after reading basic requirements. I think the biggest thing for me was the fear of opening the enclosure but that passed really fast as I had years under my belt dealing with reptiles that would not hesitate to strike and were unpredictable. (I already learnt that respect, caution and patient go a very long way. ) The feeding and missing feeds was not much of an issue as again used to that, same with temp and humidity. The molting was as I expect it is for many first time keepers a little daunting but not much you can do, eventually I learnt to love the molting process and now I look forward to it. The main things to know I think are controlling humidity and temps, respect, caution and lots patient. The other stuff such as what to do if not feeding, why is my T on its back etc etc applies whatever T you get. If you now the main things crack on get whatever as first T :) *would still go for something slow and laid back though just to be sure. Its also so much more easy these days than it once was to get into keeping. We have so much information about now from video guides, to text based guides, to instant messengers, group chats, video chats, forums and all sorts if you ever get stuck and need advice there and then. Heck more keepers also that you can ask! As a side note I think my worst T is actually my Brachypelma Boehemi or Chromatopelma Cyaneopubescens, ironically those are often suggested as good first T's.. The Baboons i have are darlings in comparison lol. Oh should also say i NEVER hold my T's EVER whatever species it is. Bring up a good point also about others in house, just because you as a keeper might be fine it wont mean others in house will be. Easy to get an escaped T for a variety of reasons. Will never be a black and white answer to the age old question "what T should i start with".

Mr Tom, you are w/out doubt the top of the totem pole tarantula expert! My 15 yr old daughter and I got into the hobby a few years ago. Starting out with an adult male AA, we only had him a year before he passed. From there went with a Grammastola pulchra sling, and a juvenile Aphonaphelma Seemanni, who recently molted into a beautiful blue form. From the beginning your channel has been our go-to guide for absolutely everything tarantula related. Your two-part sling care videos have been essential in helping us take proper care of these fuzzy babies. Watching your species specific videos has helped educate us on the wide variety of T's to choose from and the care required of each. No where else can you find in one place so much valuable information. For example, no where else does anyone recommend using furrows in the corners of the enclosure in order to maintain proper moisture levels in terrestrial tanks. Using furrows, along with wetting down and compressing the layers, has been important in keeping our A seemanni healthy and her burrow solid. I can't help but cringe when watching other tarantula channels setting up enclosures, and they just toss in dry, fluffy substrate. Anyway, while I'm sure you hear this a lot, I just wanted to tell you how valuable your channel has been to us, and how grateful we are that you take the time to do what you do.

I really appreciate this whole discussion honestly. I am new, picked up a Brachypelma Emilia a few weeks ago (that was labeled as an avic avic and the pet store had him drowning poor baby) and have been doing hardcore reaserch for my next step. And I can only imagine the disaster if I had picked up my dream spider at the time. There where physical reactions to fast movements I had to calm. Not even fear but just getting used to fast spider movements is a process in itself even for someone like me who has previous reptile and exotic experience

I could listen to you for hours, you have a really nice, relaxing voice. The information is spot on, as always too 🕷️❤️🕷️

The reason so many people look to you for care and temperament is you are very knowledgeable and confident. Very matter of fact, or if not you just give your opinion and articulate your thoughts well to tell people what needs to be said.

I am for sure considered a beginner. I have only been in the hobby for about fou r months. I listen to what everybody has to say. I now have 35 Ts. I would definitely consider myself to be an arachnophobe. When I first started, I was extremely nervous. I am now calm. The unboxings even made me a nervous wreck. I am thankful for these videos. They have helped me tremendously. Any T can be skittish. Old and new. I have a psycho curly hair and a nutty Whiteknee who seems to charge at me everytime I go near her cage. Any species can be nutty and skittish. I am just about to get two old world babies. Harpactira pulchripes and a Ceratogyrus derlangi. I have come so far. I don't hold any of my Ts. I love watching them grow. This is my one and only hobby and I am truly proud of myself considering the fact I have been scared of spiders my entire life and I am 54. Thanks so much Tom for all your knowledge. People like me are truly thankful for all your input.

I started the hobby because of you and i have literally never faced a problem that i could not solve based on information given by you. absolutely priceless content Tom! Thank you so much! greetings from Finland!

I, very much, appreciate your comments! Total common sense that I know I can depend on. Thanks!!

Hello, I rehoused my sling for the first time because it was ready for a bigger home. I appreciate all your rehousing videos, I used them as a study guide.

My wife surprised me for my birthday last year with 2 slings. Unfortunately one passed but the others still going strong. Anyways the point of what I was going to say - I started by watching tarantula keeper channels on RU-vid, wife was arachnophobic, but she decided to get me the slings as a surprise, so she started watching tarantula videos to learn about them and how to care for them before my birthday (they arrived a month or so before so she had them hidden and was caring for them for this time). End result? Wife loves tarantulas now! Is responsible for buying most of the ones we have, ha! She still doesn’t like gangly pointy legged spiders like Black Widows but big, hairy? Cute!

Didn't know you had a podcast! Glad I found it. I recently got my first tarantula (grammostola pulchripes) and he's been great. It's a lot harder to find people in the hobby where I live, and forget finding someone my age anytime soon. I do think people need to research more before they get a pet, especially an exotic. This is why animals continue to end up in shelters or sold off, because the person can't handle or care for it. I saw a picture of a T kept in a fish tank with about an inch of pink pebbles and no hide. I think people need to meet some requirements or something before buying a living thing that you have to care for. Then again, some people have children when they shouldn't.

Listening to this way later lol. I just got an H. Pulchripes sling from a mystery box from spider shoppe. Ive only been keeping for 6 months. They also sent me a P. Arboricola sling. I was nervous because I only have NW Ts. But I unboxed both with very little issue. That being said I DID so much research about them specifically before I even opened the dram vials. I knew exactly what to expect and I took every precaution. I'm now very excited to have OWs. Thank you for being such a responsible source of information. I'm currently bingeing your content 😂

Your opinion is an opinion that is humble, informed, helpful and most importantly for a you tube channel..... entertaining, cheers from Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 👍🏻

I would love to have a shirt of your's and Billie's, love tank tops when you do spring cleaning. Would mean a lot to me. Hugs 🤗

I’ll have to tune soon. Can’t believe I’ve never listened to a pod cast.

Ive been keeping reptiles for a while i had finally got my first t about 6 months ago it was a new world arboreal the panama blonde and I said that was the only 1 3 months later i got a scorpion and then shortly after i got a sun scorpion i had watched videos on the first one but not many until i got the sun spider and really started watching t videos and then i got another new world arboreal pink toe and then i decided to get a old world but I was feeling comfortable with re housing and care i also watched so many videos of re housings and care and re search and that also really helped me with getting a old world and helping me feel so much more confident so within about 4 1/2 months i went from new world to old world so it really isn't a black outline and it is really when you feel confident and comfortable with it i am super cautious i don't handle and i respect both and I have really fallen in love them all and observing them when they give me the chance

“Boring new worlds”. 🙄 Don’t bother with tarantulas then. At all.

My 2nd T was a H. Maculata sling and it was quite a experience taking care of it... but it all turned out well and I got a sp. Hati Hati after that as my 3rd tarantula, now I have many

You should have at least 100k subscribers......your videos are more informative than many others .....

Come from being an arachnophobe to owning 11 young New world tarantulas. I am amazed at them and love your youtube videos this podcast was great thank you and I agree completely with your message about old worlds.

Really enjoyed it! Wow Right On!!!!!

Really enjoyed your show mate, thanks for sharing it with us

hello great information

Hi Tom. So I'm a late newcomer into the hobby. I'm about 30 years old, but I've never kept any reptiles. However, I want to keep a Tarantula. Thanks for clarifying who people are thinking about whenever they say the word beginner.

Hey Tom hope your well, Thanks from another video love from the UK Tom O

This is pretty funny to me as an Australian! I'm pretty much still a beginner, and we have no choice but to embrace the old world. Even so, there are ways to ease into it with true spiders, although many of our true spiders give painful bites or are extremely fast. You should have mentioned there is a whole continent of T keepers that all begin with old worlds, and we manage. There are some Ts that are less problematic than others! I think it's about knowing and accepting that there is a heightened risk and as much as possible being prepared. The hobby here is in its infancy compared to overseas, it's not easy to buy anything but slings really. I think as the popularity and availability goes up here we may have more problems with younger and less prepared beginners. It'll be interesting to see where the hobby here will be in 20 years.

my first 3 Ts were old worlds but i got a albopilosum as a freebie so i still fulfilled the beginner species clause. my OBT is purely fossorial and i never see it, i get more sass from my pamphobeteus species.

I used to skip over videos because the pictures you tube showed me they looked old . now I regret skipping on them for wild. nice work on everything. very informative videos. I jump into old world . Came from reptile hobby . Got an obt and Metallica as my first two tarantula. I respect them don’t play with them or handle them . I’m not gonna lie re homing them was a hard attack the first times .

Hi Tom ,thanks for another great video/podcast I too like the way you come across and the tangential moments , don't worry about the merchandise it was called for people know where your coming from

I purchased a p.regalis as my second T couple years ago. I’ve done extensive research including your vids,I think it overall matters on the individual. Stay calm,plan ahead, and dont undermine the T is the idea. Respect goes a long way.

Thanks Tom, loved this

I got a load of enclosures lately and so had a lot rehousings to do. P.irminia, p.cambridgei, h.mac, s.cal, c.perezmilesi, n.incei. Guess who was the only one who put up a thread posture? The incei. And who was the only one bolting? The cyriocosmus :) H.mac played dead, s.cal and the psalmos went over without arguing. Those who were most urgently in need of rehouse were the most defensive, so my point is: the more adequate it's enclosure, the calmer a T will act. No matter if old world or new world. You'll need a bit of experience to do those right, but you won't get the experience if you don't try. If a beginner watches some vids of keepers who have their T's in shoeboxes where they can hardly move, and thinks of that as the norm, he'll most likely have bad experiences (and there are enough bad rolemodels out there - just watch older episodes of ExoticsLair. He learned and improved, so no hate, but the old episodes with bad keeping are still up, and beginner teeny kids are more likely to watch his channel than yours). If the same beginner thinks, you can't go too big with an enclosure and put everything in a spider needs for hiding and living he'll have a sweet one, no matter if old world or new world. You can keep both kinds good, or bad. Only difference is, if you mess up and get bit, the consequences... Long story short, if a beginner does his research, he most likely can handle it to start with an old world. If he does not, then a new world is the better choice because you have more room for making mistakes - which everyone does from time to time.

I seriously can't thank you enough for your videos and podcasts. I am a keeper after 20 years away from the hobby (I fostered a very neglected B. Hamori....needless to say I fell in love and it now has a forever home) . Before I embarked to start a collection again I religiously read,watched, listened to all the advice out there. Your channel is one of my go tos! Informative, calm and it is clear how much you care for your animals. ❣

I have 2 old world Tarantulas and 2 new world tarantulas and you are right, my old worlds are very skittish, fast & grouchy my new worlds are much more laid back and friendly.

I got into Ts about 6 months ago i have four a giant white knee. Gbb. Curly hair. Mexican redrump. Im kind of addicted and have alot of species on my list. Mostly old worlds. I love looking at them and watching them grow. Ive kept snakes before. I will hopefully trqnsition into the old worlds i want. I always play it safe and catch cup.

I’ve come back into the hobby after 20 years. I’ve purchased 2 pokies recently ..... but only after following your advice on using catch cups and tongs etc. I’ve very wary when changing water dishes and feeding etc plus I would never try to handle the pokies.

Awesome! Really enjoyed this podcast- you’re an excellent teacher 👍

Thank you, Tom. I want to share my experience with my C. Meridionalis. I did a bit of homework on how old-world T's differ from new world and since I did watch some videos about rehousing I imagined it will be doable. The first rehouse was easy because the guy where I got it from obviously did not take care of the tarantula. I got her when she was 3 inches and she was malnourished with a 1 inch substrate. I got her to move without her bolting and doing threat postures to a new enclosure with proper size (4x her size and a bit of height). I then gave her around 4 to 5 inches of substrate, provided good ventilation and humidity, and fed her juvenile b.lateralis every other day. Her abdomen started to look normal now and when I tried to rehouse her again I was surprised that she is very aggressive, hissing, and doing threat postures when I was trying to move her. I was happy and became self-aware at the same time. I realized that she is now healthy and is acting how she is supposed to act. I can only imagine the panic it might have caused if she did that by the time I got her. What I'm trying to say is that keeping old world T's are not something you should get on an impulse. You have to understand all their natural reactions and respect them for what they are. I still love her though and will keep her as long as she lives. I love my first old world T and do not regret getting her.

Hey Tom, I´m glad to have someone with good knowlege. I got in to the hobby in october this year. I got a A. seemanni (5 cm female), A. geniculata, P. sazamai and B. auratum. Next year I will get a few new one and my first old worlds. I will grow with them

I started with an OBT. I did a lot of research first. I also have been keeping other inverts for as long as I can remember and some non-tarantula spiders.

I am a newbie still,and it's my very first time listening to your podcast,super cool and informative,handy as hell cause ,my first t was a nhandu chromatus, and for missinformation my second was an obt,and my lord what an error,i was so noooot ready for the speed and teleportation,and rehousing it,cause lost of legs,pedipalps, felt horrible ,so for me that not only see your care videos ,to listen this extensivly about this topic it reaaaally help me ,and now i've got a p.regalis ,and that thing is fast my got ,so really tom,thanks from Argentina, we love you here too

I do like listening to you you have alot of information your right

You are spot on. When recommending a good beginner speicies i always assume that the keeper are totally green. I see it this way. A beginner that never kept tarantulas are more prone to get bit, cause they are not familiair with tarantula behaviour, or is a little afraid of it. And if they get bit cos of lack of experience, the tarantula should not have potent venom. Thats why you shall recommend a normally calmer tarantula, with LESS potent venom to such a person. It would be reckless to recommend something other. You always have to assume that the beginner always is such a novice person. 9/10 times i see beginner have tarantulas set up the wrong way, and just go over to the Arachnoboards and read those beginner questions that pop up over and over again. Recommending tarantulas exept the calmest new world tarantulas to a beginner with rehouses and all the other things would be terrible!

i know some people in australia and other parts of the world don't have much choice when it comes to "beginner species". the ts that are available tend to be more old worlds. aussies aren't allowed to own a new world, and i've seen exoticslair and he has mostly asian fossorials living in malaysia.

Another great podcast , I am fairly new to the hobby but have no intentions of ever getting into old words just don't see the need but it's great to hear your explenations about why they are not for beginners . Here in the UK I think alot off beginners get into old worlds very quickly .

Thanks for the talk it was factual informative a sensible look into the hobby by the way podcast awesome cheers Tom

Best format on the best platform

When I'm done listening to your broadcast on Sunday, I'm always excited for the next week!! Then I'm listening every day an older one till it's Sunday again 😂😂😂. Great job , thank you so much !!! Stay save!!!! Greetings from Germany Jean 🙂

WARNING: LONG READ If this never been said before I will say this now. You are the go to person when alot of us need to learn husbandry, rehousing and specie's notes on tarantulas. You are very well respected in the T hobby community by us that take it seriously and want to promote it in a positive light. This hobby already has enough stigmata on it as it is. From illegal collecting, people that see it as repulsive and inhumane to people that use it as a source of irresponsible entertainment. Being a teacher by trade makes you the best option to present the hobby. Knowing how to educate people instead of looking to entertain people makes all the difference in the world. I started on your videos but I also listen to your podcast. Both are excellent source material. I think it was a great idea to make a video like this which you already touched alot on in some of your podcast episodes. Alot of people don't listen to podcast or are on Facebook. I am still new in the hobby. Come this December 10th will make 1 year since I've owned T's. I learned proper husbandry, species notes and rehousing techniques from watching your videos. I am happy to report that I never had an escape or been bitten. I have however got a little urticating hair on the back side of my hand. That itch is no joke, lasted 3 days and had a welt, real bad. Got haired because I wasn't wearing gloves when working with the T's enclosure. The tarantula didn't hair me it was just loose hair in the enclosure. Glad to say never happened again. You touched on something in your video that people need to understand that are looking to get into the hobby. Watching alot of videos on tarantulas is not the same thing when it's right in front of you. People don't understand the speed of some of these species or underestimate it. I've seen some true spiders, (non-tarantula for those that don't know the difference) move extremely fast that it was uncanny. The human eye cannot register the sheer speed of movement of some of these tarantulas especially old worlds. It's one thing if it's a true spider like the size of a half dollar it's entirely another thing when you're talking something at 8 inches and venom that is going to mess you up bad if it's a wet bite. I've been bitten by a highly venomous spider when I was young and the symptoms are very similar to a bite from a pokie. However the bite from a pokie would be worse. People underestimate them. I've seen people that's been in the hobby along time get bit by a P. metallica, real bad day for them. It's a trip to the ER for pain management and after a few weeks of pain can have symptoms that last off and on for 6 months to a year. I apologize for this extremely long message but responsible T owners are tired of people who I'll call tarantula entertainers because of some of the very bad info they present to possible future T owners. We need people like you representing the hobby in a professional and positive light. Thanks for all the hard work you have done for the hobby promoting it and helping us that need accurate information. PS CHUD was a great movie, CHUD 2 though pretty bad. Where do you find these shirts? I want a shirt from my favorite movie John Carpenter's 'The Thing'.

Sweet more stuff to listen to at work 🤝🏻thank you good sir🕷❤

Thanks for the super video you created here Tom. Good stuff,great advice. As a long, long time snake keeper,collector and aficionado I really appreciated your comment of not getting into this hobby due to shock value,macho,or thrills. I must admit I got lulled into a state of complacency watching T videos from you and Alex (which almost always come off perfect) ,hearing ad nauseum about Old World tarantulas Mach speed........then actually seeing one freaking just put it in 7th gear and go roughly 3 feet in 1 second like he was at Darlington. Holy Peter!!!!! I pretty much decided that once I come into tarantulas,I wanted to start with the New World friendly guys and only start with 3 or 4 the same size. Seeing that spidder spid away like that tabled any idea I may have had about bringing in a Monocentropus balfouri and a Halpactira pulcripes for the second wave. I absolutely love both of these guys. But I'm with you,better to learn new husbandry skills caring for an easier spider first and building the trust with the animal. I had at one time 57 snakes of all kinds. I have many interests and one day it hit me that what was once a hobby was now a chore and it got old fast,believe me. It wasn't that I started liking snakes less,it was that I had less time for fishing,surf fishing,fly fishing,hunting,trains,the beach,the mountains etc. And also, I had lost the fun I had interacting with my individual snakes that I'd raised as little noodles. The collection was too big to spend time with each. I dont know how many T's you,Richard,Petko, and Martin have but if it's 50-100,you guys are a zookeepers. Your day may come like mine did. One other thing.....I wish one of the snake guys on YT would take it upon themselves like you did here to talk about the absolute WRECKLESSNESS going on with freehandling deadly venomous snakes on camera. BAD idea to show young guys this,it sets an appalling example. There is an overabundance of testosterone going around in the snake field today. There is a story to be told about keeping venomous,deadly snakes in apartments,condos and townhouses by minors who are wreckless. There's not only the ultimate danger of an escape which is unacceptable but the fact no one talks about that one simply cannot make a mistake with a mamba,cobra,krait,bushmaster,krait,,Fer de Lance etc. Where does it say just anybody can harbor a mamba? At any rate....Im off my pulpit....great video.

I know this is an old upload so I don't know if you'll see this comment but thank you so much for posting this. I'm kind of in that middle place of having a lot of animal experience, including exotics, but looking to get into the tarantula hobby hopefully soon. I tried to have this discussion about I guess how serious the "not beginner friendly" warnings actually are on some species/what constitutes a beginner (to be fair though I was asking about P. metallica specifically) and I got flamed for it on arachnoboards 🤣 And on the one hand I get it but I was only asking to be treated seriously and like an adult. More people were helpful though and eventually the A. geniculata cult got to me and I'm pretty set on starting there at this point I had even gone into the conversation saying I wasn't like set on getting P. metallica (so it's not like anyone needed to try to scare me out of it lol) just that I'd done a lot of research and also watched a lot of people work with them and wanted to get some anecdotes from people who had kept them to see if that lined up with my observations and it's like if you're new to the hobby people often want to treat you like you have never done/have no idea how to do research and have never kept a pet before, when what I was really trying to ask was "I am not a clueless beginner, do I still need to be taking that warning?" I had already decided against it obviously but it still helps a lot to hear this stuff, especially the specific reasons why I personally might not be ready for that yet

funny you mention 12 year olds, i remember when i was 12 all i wanted was a horned baboon or king baboon. while there was no youtube back then and limited info on the internet, i'm sure i could have handled it. in the end i waited around 15 years doing research and ended up with an OBT

Love the species shirts

You've helped me a lot, you're definitely my go to for T info! Thanks so much!

I'm one of those people who will probably never get into old worlds. It's mainly about the 'what ifs' of keeping them, not about the temperament. I'd rather not risk the health of the people I live with in case a T manages to somehow pull a Houdini and escape. And accidents can always happen despite our best efforts.

I've used you as a reference for my re entrance into the hobby. I originally kept reptiles, nearly 25 years, and while I was younger I ended up buying some adult female T's that became available because a local collector had died, and their family had basically just donated his collection to a pet store. The specimens? I am rather embarrassed to say they included a Pokie regalis, a Psalmo cambridgei, and a (formerly) Hap lividum. Had no idea what I was doing, was under the impression that any T bite would only sting a bit. Thankfully, due to my xp with angry pythons and boas, I was never bitten by a spider. Earlier this year I started buying slings, and really took seriously the challenge of learning about doing things right. I have contacted you before, to get advice, especially when I couldn't find anything else. I don't do groups or local boards, because I know from experience with reptile groups how snobby and really unfriendly they can be. Especially when "bothered" by new keepers with basic questions. They look down their noses at your lack of knowledge, while at the same time deeming themselves too important as moderators to answer basic questions. They say do your research, but caresheets kill. Not particularly helpful. Also the prevailing attitude of "Do what we say, and don't question why." Not for me. This turned into a rant, sorry. I just wanted to say that I still do keep a mix of new and old world. I don't keep things for the thrill, but rather just for the joy of keeping them. I wanted to really thank you for your advice and videos. You actually respond to everyone, and I can't tell you how impressive that is. You and Tarantula Collective (Richard) and Dark Den (Petko) have been some of the nicest people to watch, and gain a good amount of info from. I wish you continued success, and just know that you have made a huge difference to at least one keeper. All the best. P.S. The advice you gave? About the Trinidad Pink? They are doing great, about 2" in size now. Hunts like a cougar. Thanks again.

This is the first podcast I've listened to, as you say I didn't think it would be my cup a tea but I found this topic very interesting as I've had this question asked of me from friends on FB more often than not and I do agree with your stance on not recommending old worlds as a 'Beginner species' this is a hobby that has some risks and minimizing those risks has to be the priority for the good of the hobbyists and the Tarantulas and as a very respected Hobbist and RU-vidr you have a duty of care, not a legal one but a moral one to inform your viewers why Old Worlds are not really for beginners and of course you will have those that will argue this, but really is it an argument? Common sense is needed here I feel, you are dealing with an animal by its nature can be dangerous and unpredictable so a start slowly approach would be the common sense you don't run before you walk I understand the fascination of the old world species and understand why a Beginner would like one but as the reasons, you state no one really with any common sense would or should endorse one to a beginner. This is a hobby that divides people on pretty much every aspect of it and more often than not "It's my opinion" is the answer to arguments it would be nice to see " the common sense thing to do is" answer more often. We don't have many RU-vidrs that give the information you do over here in the UK most are look what I got for free merchants so keep up the fantastic work you do for us Hobbyists around the world.

As someone who has never had any exotic animals, such as reptiles, I would have been completely green to have tarantulas as pets. I have only watched youtube videos about tarantulas for only a week and a half. I have fallen for: 1. Brazilian Blue Dwarf Beauty 2. Green Bottle Blue 3. Typohochlaena Seladonia 4. Poecilotheria Metallica And I want to learn more about these tarantulas, which is why I still watch these videos, even though I have a fear of spiders. and if I ever find out I want a tarantula, then it must be one of them, but I would never have kept a tarantula and I would not have been down if I had not seen it all the way. I even sit and think about how I could possibly have done things so that everything would have been safe, both for me, the tarantella and my kids (2 dogs and 1 cat). I have also quite recently started falling for 5. Brazillian Black But it's more because it would have been cool to have a tarantella named S. Snape or Black. But I'll probably never get a single pet tarantula, especially as long as I live in my apartment.

my first T was a Hati Hati, then an LP. i started at the top of the "ladder"

Awesome man, I always learn something new listening to your podcasts.

I have been waiting on this one for a long time. Thanks for posting it. I understand your talking points and I think they're all valid. I hope you never feel like you're loading "another re-housing" video. I'm like so many others, in that I want to see that other view or different technique, etc. Same goes for feeding, watering, etc. Husbandry should always be #1, at least in my opinion and I've always thought you do an excellent job at this. FWIW, I still don't have any OWs yet. I too get excited when it's rehousing time. Usually my Ts have explosive growth shortly after going into something larger and that is exciting. Kinda strange hearing you talk about going back to school when compared to what's going on right now. Everyone in my house is now 100% remote, which really sucks. Stay safe.

I just started keeping in August of this year, have 2 years of experience with reptiles and I now have 5 te, two of those being an H. Maculata and a C. Darlingi. I’m also legally blind, but I’m managing them well. Rehousing them took some time. They’re decent size- 3 inches or so. I think it depends on the individual, however, I would definitely NOT recommend old worlds to beginners. The speed is incredible.

Woohoo! I’m excited about your T-shirts! My eldest (adult) son and I watch your videos and are up to about 20 T’s now. TECHNICALLY they are his, but that just means that I have a bunch of cool spiders to look at that he takes care of, with me just being backup in some rehousings. Anyhoo - spider t-shirt for him for Christmas, and maybe one for me ;)

My third tarantula was an OBT. I had absolute no problem caring for that T. I had to have respect for what it was, but it did not overwhelm me ans I quite enjoyed keeping her. My 4th tarantula was a cobalt blue which was a haplopelma lividum at the time. I had to have one. I was not prepared. Nearly 20 years later I still do not keep any in my collection. I call it a cobalt nope.

As far as non-tarantula experience is or isn't relevant. Any animal handling experience is applicable. My experience with livestock (mammalian) handling helps deal with Ts. Probably the biggest lesson that moves over? Don't try to prevent their escape while moving from one enclosure to the next. Instead, give them an escape route that you actually control or one that puts them exactly where you want them. If you try to block off all escape, they WILL find or make one. You don't know where that will be. If you give them an obvious escape, they will often take it.

I live in Australia and we don’t have much choice haha Definitely agree snake keeping has helped me start in this hobby.

I like the colors

This on point video tom i been reptile hobby for 12 year own laid back reptiles and really aggressive reptiles think that what help jump in the tarantula hobby went straight old world i own 5 pokies and three baboon species and three earth tigers and love them

Beautiful creatures! I love to take care of one of these sweeties but my husband would have a bird. I'm the spider rescuer in the house.

Very good podcast Tom especially on the h pulchripes I've been bringing one up from a sling and it's just had another molt with me,for the most part no probs but the one day I opened the lid to feed her and got a threat posture and a strike must have been in a mood that day. I've only been in the hobby about 1 and a half years and my second t was an old world a adult female c marshalli she gave me an hard time when rehousing her wasn't expecting it has she was calm when changing water and cleaning.some of my new worlds are pretty nasty compared to my old worlds, c fimbriatus juvi female is always on display but I find she is rather shy and goes in a stress curl which is good for me I've never seen any defensive behaviour from her.ive also rehoused my c dyscolus a few times and no defensive behaviour I've been lucky but has u said the potential is still there.i went into old worlds because I liked the look at some species not because I wanted something fiesty if you want something fiesty get a phormictopus or pamphobeteus. I agree new worlds are not boaring they can be as feisty as the old worlds.would I recommend an old world spieces not has a first one.maybe a second one.as long as u do your homework then u will no what to expect. I wouldn't say I was an experienced keeper but I know that I respect the old world species take your time and u should have no probs.

Hi Tom 😀 how are ya? Great video as usual 👏🏻😎👏🏻

My Opinion is, Beginners should go with a new world T. You will soon buy more Tarantulas and you can get some others within Months. So you do not have to wait 20 years until you get a second one. So get a new world one at first, rehouse it and then you already get a feeling for these animals. Confidence is the Key. If you are okey after a few feedings, and potentially one or two rehouses, you can get a faster, boltier one. If its an New World aboreal or an old world depends on you and your confidence. You can see hundreds of species rehoused or feeded even here on this channel. That also gives you an idea how T's behave. So no need to hurry with old worlds, you will get there faster than you thought.

I don't know you but i can tell that you are sincere in what your saying!!!!!

I used to be an Arachnophobe, but I have been binge watching tarantula videos, now I love them, I've never had a tarantula, but I'm trying to decide which tarantula to get. I love Monocentropus balfouri's, but it's old world.

cheers

The old new world vs old world debate doesn't go away does it? 😁 There are new worlds such as a. Gen, t. Blondi, p. Irminia etc that are not the typical pet rocks people think of when new worlds come up. Not all new worlds are ex brachypelma sp, and some of those can even be skittish and bolty. I've had some serious misbehaviour from a few p iminias, more so than any old worlds I've had. They are adamant on escape it seems. Many old worlds are fast and are fussy where housing and conditions are concerned, and I mainly keep arboreals, but mostly they are very shy and tend to hide or knuckle down in a corner rather than defend. I have h macs, various pokies, hati hati, various other cyriopagopus and omothymus etc from old world areas and they are quite amiable if you respect them. Just don't let your guard down as escape is probably the biggest risk with animals that can out pace humans by a long way. Rehousing is OK if you cover the escape routes or simply place the old house in the new one and just leave the spider to come out on its own. If the spider is having a bad day leave it alone and work around them. I don't attempt handling or overtly annoy them, they know 2 things are coming when I am around and that is food and water. Apart from observing them if they're out I have them in a quiet room on their own so they have little in the way of stressors. If you express common sense with old worlds you are OK, however the same should be applied to new worlds. For example I have all the tooling and catchers ready for any spider I'm working with. My sister sums it up neatly by saying she wouldn't want a half inch fang in her hand no matter who its from. Basically respect their wild nature, even if they're captive bred. I've applied this basic sense for 20 odd years with a wide array of animals and I've not been hurt by them and have one escapee which I ended up catching. As for beginners, we've all got to start somewhere. Any spider can catch you off guard new or old world. Therefore it makes sense to know more about your personal limits and find out a species that suits, but I thinks it's essential to experience adults prior to acquisition. It's a total error to buy online because they are cute on pictures and not know what is coming in the post. Or what you will eventually have. Some larger new worlds can be surprisingly intimidating when they molt up a size if you aren't expecting it. Of all the people I know with spiders it's husbandry and environmental conditions that caught them out at first, myself included. Many new worlds are a little more forgiving in this area, certainly those from mid American areas tend to be quite Hardy based on what we've seen with good longevity. Good informative podcast from someone who clearly thinks about what he's doing 👍

Love your pod cast intact it’s the only one I’ve every listened too

I agree with your podcast on this subject. I have two female OBTs in similar enclosures. One is so absolutely docile you'd think I painted a Chaco. The other one however, fits the expected slapping and bite attempts, and would wreck someone used to seeing my other one and expecting pleasantries. However for exceptions I also have a female curly hair who acts more like a Thailand Black. She stays covered 24/7 and tries to bite with no provocation. With her though, a bite would be so much more minor to someone new in the hobby.

first tarantula's purchased 4 weeks ago all at the same time p metallica, gbb, c. Versicolor, pumpkin patch large, obt All slings. first off thx tom to be honest I no doubt would have suffered some tragedy without witnessing your rehousing techniques I have watched a majority of your videos your information will hopefully contribute to my success despite others informed opinions telling me it is likely I will not. a similar argument exists about not starting on a 600cc motorcycle because you can easily speed than crash. if nothing else hopefully It proves to be an interesting experiment a some "starter" tarantulas and some not so starter tarantulas given a somewhat researched beginner.

Ok, Tom, it's Monday and I'm not seeing anything about t-shirts!! I know they will be awesome, so please don't feel shy about them.❣️

Finally I have decided to get an old world tarantula.. Thank you sir Tom 😊

My first t was a p.regalis

Tarantula Enthusiast from Indonesia

I’ve first started with a centipede (Scolopendra Dihaani)and thinking about getting a T...

I would like to get a Brazillian blue. I have a curly brown, and two pink toes. The male is a dwarf from Antilles

Hey, Tom!! Huge fan and definitely not my first comment lol. I had an idea for a podcast topic that I'm very curious about and I'm sure other T keepers might be interested in hearing your opinion on this. What do you feel about euthanasia with tarantulas? What do you think the best ways to go about it are, if we should even go about it at all? I know there's a huge discussion inside the community, but I never seem to see definitive answers... I also have seen some pretty controversial opinions on the way a famous RU-vidr has euthanized one of their T's recently, but I don't want to start anything about that haha. I'm more interested in your take. :) Thank you for everything you do, and awesome episode as always!

What are your thoughts on rehousing a tarantula by leaving its smaller enclosure inside the new one until it wants to come out?

🤘💯🤘💯🤘💯🤘